Degenerative and Inflammatory
Arthritis is a condition characterized by pain, stiffness, swelling , tenderness, and decreased range of motion in the joints. Symptoms can be transient or chronic, ranging in intensity from mild to severe. Symptoms may stay the same for long periods of time or get worse as time goes on. Severe arthritis can cause chronic pain and make the sufferer incapable of doing day-to-day activities. Arthritis can even cause physical changes in the joints (e.g., knobbiness in finger joints). Although some types of arthritis can affec t other parts of the body aside from the joints, most arthritis affects the joints. The two most common types of arthritis are degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis) and inflammatory arthritis (rheumatoid). Degenerative Arthritis Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is a form of degenerative arthritis that causes the breakdown of the cartilage in a joint. The cartilage, the cushioning on the ends of bones where they meet at a joint, wears away thereby